Citizens Financial Surveyed Worker Career Goals
A new study found that most workers are willing to make financial sacrifices to access professional development opportunities.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Careers
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Would you personally sacrifice your own finances to fund career skills training for better opportunities?
Citizens Financial Group recently conducted a survey of 1,000 U.S. adults regarding their attitudes toward career training and skill development. The findings indicate a strong desire for educational investment, with a large majority of respondents willing to sacrifice personal finances to improve their professional prospects.
Why it matters
The survey highlights a significant demand for employer-led training, as 92 percent of workers indicated they would remain with companies that invest in their skills. This data reinforces the importance of corporate workforce development programs in improving long-term employee retention and career accessibility.
The survey of 1,000 low- and moderate-income adults found that 77 percent believe new skills improve career opportunities, while 70 percent see artificial intelligence as a tool to increase accessibility to training.
The players
Citizens Financial Group
This banking and financial services company provides retail and commercial banking products to clients across the United States.
Jobs for the Future
This national nonprofit organization works to improve economic advancement for individuals by transforming the American workforce and education systems.
The details
In collaboration with Jobs for the Future, Citizens Financial Group analyzed the perspectives of workers without college degrees to better understand the barriers to skill acquisition. The firm's Community College Accelerator initiative currently supports 35 micro-pathway programs across 12 college partnerships in six states, having already reached nearly 900 learners.
Timeline
In 2025, Citizens announced a three-year, $20 million workforce development commitment.
Survey results were officially announced on October 6, 2026.
Citizens plans to provide $7.5 million in workforce development funding in 2026.
Market Landscape
The study aligns with a broader trend of financial institutions investing in non-traditional education to address structural labor shortages. This shifts the market landscape by positioning banking entities as essential partners in workforce training rather than mere lenders.
Workers may find more opportunities for professional growth as banks increase funding for accessible, employer-aligned micro-pathway programs. This investment strategy could directly reduce the personal out-of-pocket costs typically associated with individual career re-skilling efforts.
The takeaway
Workers clearly prioritize opportunities for professional growth, making skill development a primary factor in job loyalty. Employees seeking career advancement should inquire about employer-sponsored training initiatives during the hiring or performance review process.
What happens next
Citizens Financial Group expects to execute its planned $7.5 million in workforce development funding throughout the 2026 calendar year.
Further reading
For more information on labor market trends, visit the Careers section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Providence Business News.
Live Poll
Would you personally sacrifice your own finances to fund career skills training for better opportunities?
